Tasaduq Hussain
Kupwara, Jan 11: The recent snowfall has led to a complete halt in the day to day life of people living in the Karnah sector in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district with only stretch connecting the town with the rest of the world closed and power supply affected for a week now.
Kashmir valley including border areas in north Kashmir recently received a heavy volume of snowfall with major roads connecting different border sectors with their district headquarters were shut given the snow accumulation.
The aggrieved people of the Karnah sector said that they are worried as the only road connecting the region with the district headquarters has been shut and power supply disrupted for a week is now forcing people to face challenges with people stuck from both ends.
Locals said that some patients are stuck in parts of Kupwara including Karnah sector who needs to see a doctor in Srinagar or in other parts of Kashmir.
They also complained about the affected power supply saying that the entire sector is reeling under complete darkness and students are facing immense challenges while those preparing for different comparative examinations are the worst sufferers.
The aggrieved people said that the population is facing difficulties and the demand for Sadhna snow tunnel is gathering dust.
“It seems that our pleas are falling on deaf ears,” they said.
Meanwhile, officials said that the snow accumulation was around 8 feet and it varied at different spots.
Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Karnah Dr. Gulzar Ahmad said that “the snow clearance operation is underway and it is expected that the road will be through by the late evening and hopefully, traffic movement will be resumed.”
The SDM said that he visited Sadhna top earlier today to review the snow clearance operation and the snow accumulation was different at different spots.
About the power scenario, the SDM said that the efforts to restore it are on. “A fault was detected which was fixed and the power was restored but the line couldn’t sustain the load. Several patrolling teams are on the job as of now to ensure restoration and by this 7:00 pm (Today evening) another try will be done and expectedly it will be restored fully,” the SDM said.
Regarding the essential stock availability given the eight-day road closure, the top administrator of the Karnah sector informed that there is no dearth of anything as such since preparation was already done ahead of snowfall given that it is a routine in the winter season.
“For winter essential stock is dumped in sufficient quantity to ensure there is no scarcity and as of now there is no crisis or dearth,” the SDM further said.
